Laurie Daley is on the verge of becoming NSW's second most successful coach however doubts remain whether he will remain in charge for next year's State of Origin series.
Daley has remained tight-lipped about his future leading up to State of Origin II at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night however Blues great Andrew Johns cast doubt on whether he will be back for a sixth series at the helm.
"I don't know if Laurie wants to go on. You see snippets in the press, I just don't know if we wants to go around again," Johns told AAP.
"If he wants to, the job's his."
Daley has overseen just one series victory - in 2014 - since taking over from Ricky Stuart in 2013.
He has at times been under enormous pressure and his tenure was last year questioned following the Maroon's mammoth win in the 2015 decider and after them winning the 2016 series inside two games.
However he could write himself into the Blues record books as just the second NSW coach to win multiple series with a victory in Origin II on Wednesday night.
Only Phil Gould - who took the Blues to six series wins - has lifted the Origin shield on multiple occasions as coach.
Daley's contract with the NSWRL is up at the end of the year and he has refused to be drawn on whether he will stand down or seek a renewal.
Johns said he had seen Daley come under considerable stress and strain during his time as NSW coach and questioned whether he wanted that burden.
"It's so much pressure. I couldn't imagine the pressure he's under. It's his decision really," Johns said.
"It's in the back of your mind the whole time. He's spoken about times when he doesn't sleep, it's in his head the whole time. I'd hate to imagine the pressure he's under."
BLUES COACHES
NSW coaches to have won a State of Origin series
* 1985 - Terry Fearnley
* 1986 - Ron Willey
* 1990 - Jack Gibson
* 1992-94, 1996, 2003-04 - Phil Gould
* 1997 - Tommy Raudonikis
* 2000 - Wayne Pearce
* 2005 - Ricky Stuart
* 2014 - Laurie Daley
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